Air inlet and liquid blocking structure, atomizer and aerosol generating device

ABSTRACT

An aerosol generating device has an air inlet and liquid blocking structure, and an atomizer. The air inlet and liquid blocking member includes an air intake pipe and at least two groups of liquid blocking rib assemblies. The air intake pipe includes an opening end, a closed end, and an outer peripheral wall, the opening end is provided with an air inlet, the outer peripheral wall defines an air guiding hole. The liquid blocking rib assemblies are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the intake pipe. Each group of liquid blocking rib assemblies includes at least one liquid blocking section protruding radially along the intake pipe and arranged along a circumferential direction. One or more dripping port O are defined between the liquid blocking sections located on the same circumference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating device, in particular to an air inlet and liquid blocking structure, an atomizer and an aerosol generating device.

BACKGROUND

The aerosol generating device usually includes an atomizer and a power supply device electrically connected to the atomizer, the atomizer can heat and atomize the aerosol-forming substrate stored in the atomizer under the electric drive of the power supply device for inhalation by the user.

At present, the aerosol-forming substrate and/or condensate formed in the atomizing chamber of the nebulizer tends to leak to the power supply through the air inlet, so that after a long period of use, the leaked liquid is likely to affect the service life of the power supply device, and even reduce the safety performance of the aerosol generating device.

SUMMARY

In view of above, it is necessary to provide an air inlet and liquid blocking structure that prevents leakage of the aerosol-forming substrate in the atomizer.

It is also necessary to provide an atomizer with the above-mentioned air inlet and liquid blocking structure.

It is even more necessary to provide an aerosol generating device with the above atomizer.

An air inlet and liquid blocking structure includes:

-   -   an outer sleeve having an air outlet end facing the atomizing         core, the air outlet end is provided with an air outlet hole         communicating with the inner atomizing chamber of the atomizing         assembly; and     -   an air inlet and liquid blocking member, set in the outer         sleeve, and includes an air intake pipe and at least two groups         of liquid blocking rib assemblies; the air intake pipe includes         an opening end and a closed end arranged along its axial         direction, and an outer peripheral wall connected between the         opening end and the closed end;     -   the opening end is provided with an air inlet connecting the         outside world and the inner cavity of the air intake pipe, the         outer peripheral wall defines an air guiding hole communicating         between the inner cavity of the air intake pipe and the air         outlet hole;     -   wherein, the liquid blocking rib assemblies are arranged at         intervals along the axial direction of the intake pipe, each         group of liquid blocking rib assemblies includes at least one         liquid blocking section protruding radially along the intake         pipe and arranged along a circumferential direction. at least         one dripping port O is defined between the liquid blocking         sections located on the same circumference, the projections of         the drip ports O in adjacent liquid-blocking rib groups along         the axial direction of the intake pipe are staggered from each         other; the drip ports O in the adjacent liquid resistance rib         groups in the axial direction of the air intake pipe communicate         with each other to form a drip channel.

In one of the embodiment, the drip opening O formed in a group of liquid blocking rib assemblies adjacent to the air outlet hole and the projection of the air outlet hole along the axial direction of the air intake pipe are staggered from each other.

In one of the embodiment, the surface of the liquid blocking section of the group of liquid blocking rib assemblies adjacent to the air outlet hole facing the air outlet hole is a rough plane.

In one of the embodiment, the air outlet hole includes a plurality of openings on the air outlet end, the closed end of the air intake pipe faces a plurality of air outlet holes, the projections of the multiple air outlet holes completely fall into the plane where the closed end is located.

In one of the embodiment, the air guiding hole is located between at least two groups of liquid blocking rib assemblies and the air inlet; the air guiding hole includes a plurality of holes arranged along the circumference of the air intake pipe.

In one of the embodiment, the outer sleeve is made of metal material, the outlet hole of the outer sleeve is facing the heating surface of the atomizor.

In one of the embodiment, a sealing flange protrudes radially from the outer peripheral wall of the intake pipe adjacent to the opening end, the outer sleeve is hermetically fitted outside the sealing flange and surrounds the air guiding hole;

-   -   wherein the gap between the inner tube wall of the outer sleeve         and the liquid blocking

section in each group of liquid blocking rib assemblies allows pressurized gas to flow into the atomizing chamber and prevents the fluid in the atomizing chamber a from flowing out to the outside.

An atomizer includes an atomization assembly with an atomizing chamber and the air inlet and liquid blocking structure described in any one of the foregoing.

In one of the embodiment, the atomizing assembly includes a base defining the atomizing chamber and an atomizing core provided in the atomizing chamber, the air inlet and liquid blocking structure is provided at the base and located below the atomizing core, the air outlet end of the outer casing with the air outlet hole extends into the atomizing chamber.

An aerosol generating device includes the atomizer described in any one of the foregoing

In the intake liquid blocking structure of the present disclosure, by arranging liquid blocking rib assemblies and forming several drip channels between each liquid blocking rib assembly, the aerosol-forming substrate and/or the condensate formed in the atomizing chamber a can be absorbed by the liquid-resistant rib group after entering the outer sleeve through the air outlet hole, thereby preventing the liquid from leaking to the power supply device through the air guiding hole and the air inlet hole and affecting the service life of the power supply device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of an atomizer in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the atomizer shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is an exploded schematic diagram of an angle of the air inlet and liquid blocking structure of the atomizer shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is an exploded schematic view from another angle of theair inlet and liquid blocking structure of the atomizer shown in FIG. 1 .

atomizer 100 atomizing assembly 11 base 110 atomizing core 112 liquid storage member 13 liquid storage chamber 130 air inlet and liquid outer sleeve 150 blocking structure 15 air outlet hole 1501 air inlet and liquid blocking member 152 air intake pipe 1521 opening end 1521a closed end 1521b peripheral wall 1521c flange 1521d liquid blocking rib assembly 1523 liquid blocking section 1523a air inlet hole 1525 air guiding hole 1527 atomizing chamber a liquid receiving groove b

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In order to facilitate the understanding of the present disclosure, the present disclosure will be described more fully below with reference to the relevant drawings. Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are provided in the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure can be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the understanding of the disclosure of the present disclosure more thorough and comprehensive.

It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being “fixed” to another element, it can be directly on the other element or there can also be an intervening element. When an element is considered “connected” to another element, it may be directly connected to another element or there may be an intervening element at the same time.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the technical field of this present disclosure. The terminology used in the description of the present disclosure herein is only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an aerosol generating device,

he aerosol generating device includes an atomizer 100 and a power supply device (not shown) electrically connected to the atomizer 100. In use, the power supply device is used to provide electric energy to the atomizer 100, and then heat the aerosol-forming substrate stored in the atomizer 100, and the aerosol-forming substrate is atomized under heating to form smoke for the user to inhale.

Please refer to FIG. 2 , the atomizer 100 includes an atomizing assembly 11, a liquid storage member 13 and an air inlet and liquid blocking structure 15. Wherein, a liquid storage chamber 130 for storing the aerosol-forming substrate is formed in the liquid storage member 13, the atomizing component 11 is located in the gravity direction of the aerosol-forming substrate in the liquid storage chamber 130, and is configured for absorbing and atomizing the aerosol-forming substrate provided by the liquid storage chamber 130. The air inlet and liquid blocking structure 15 is arranged in the atomizing assembly 11 to provide airflow for the atomizing of the atomizing assembly 11, and absorb the aerosol-forming substrate and/or condensate flowing out by atomizing assembly 11 simultaneously, so as to avoid leakage of aerosol-forming substrates and/or condensate affecting the service life of the power supply device.

Wherein, the atomizing assembly 11 includes a base 110 and an atomizing core 112. The base 110 is configured to provide support for the installation of the atomizing core 112, and its inner cavity is hollow to form an atomizing chamber a. The liquid storage member 13 is provided on the base 110, and the atomizing core 112 is provided in the atomizing chamber a and is located in the gravity direction of the aerosol-forming substrate in the liquid storage chamber 130. In use, the aerosol-forming substrate in the liquid storage chamber 130 flows to the atomizing core 112, under the action of the electric energy provided by the power supply device to the atomizer 100, the aerosol-forming substrate absorbed by the atomizing core 112 is atomized to form smoke, and the smoke is inhaled by the user's inhalation action.

Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 , the air inlet and liquid blocking structure 15 includes an outer sleeve 150 and an air inlet and liquid blocking member 152. Wherein, one axial end of the outer sleeve 150 is open, and the other axial end is provided with an air outlet hole 1501 communicating with the atomizing chamber a in the atomizing assembly 11. That is to say, the end of the outer sleeve 150 facing the atomizing assembly 11 is semi-closed, which means that the outer sleeve 150 has an air outlet end facing the atomizing core 112.

In this specific embodiment, the outer sleeve 150 is made of metal material, and the air outlet hole 1501 of the outer sleeve 150 faces the heating surface of the atomizing core 112. It can be understood that the outer sleeve 150 can be integrated with the base 110 of the atomizer 100, or can be installed in the base 110 of the atomizer 100 as a separate part. Outer sleeve 150 is preferably a separate piece and made of metallic material, since the outlet hole 1501 of the outer sleeve 150 is facing the heating surface of the atomizing core 112, the metal material can effectively prevent the outer sleeve 150 from being melted by high temperature and block the air outlet hole 1501.

The air inlet and liquid blocking member 152 is set in the outer sleeve 150, and includes an air intake pipe 1521 and at least two groups of liquid blocking rib assemblies 1523. The air intake pipe 1521 includes an opening end 1521 a and a closed end 1521b arranged along its axial direction, and an outer peripheral wall 1521 c connected between the opening end 1521 a and the closed end 1521 b. The opening end 1521 a is provided with an air inlet 1525 connecting the outside world and the inner cavity of the air intake pipe 1521, the outer peripheral wall 1521 c defines an air guiding hole 1527 communicating between the inner cavity of the air intake pipe 1521 and the air outlet hole 1501.

In this specific embodiment, the air guiding hole 1527 is disposed on an end of the air intake pipe 1521 close to the air inlet 1525, and is located between at least two groups of liquid blocking rib assemblies 1523 and the air inlet 1525. The air guiding hole 1527 includes a plurality of holes arranged along the circumference of the air intake pipe 1521, the gas flowing in through the air inlet hole 1525 can flow out in a distributed manner along a plurality of air guide holes 1527.

Further, a sealing flange 1521 d protrudes radially from the outer peripheral wall of the intake pipe 1521 adjacent to the opening end 1521 a, the outer sleeve 150 is hermetically fitted outside the sealing flange 1521 d and surrounds the air guiding hole 1527. That is to say, the sealing flange 1521 d is formed between the opening end 1521 a of the intake pipe 1521 and the air guiding hole 1527 (ie, located below the air guiding hole 1527), the edge of the open end of the outer sleeve 150 is sealed and supported on the sealing flange 1521 d, the air guide holes 1527 are enclosed in the tube lumen of the outer sleeve 150. In this way, it is ensured that the end of the tube of the outer sleeve 150 and the air inlet tube 1521 are sealed, so as to prevent the aerosol dripping from the atomizing chamber a from forming a matrix and/or condensate flowing out from the gap between the two, after the outside air enters the inner cavity of the intake pipe 1521 through the air intake hole 1525, it can be diverted into the gap between the outer sleeve 150 and the air inlet and liquid blocking member 152 through the air guiding hole 1527.

All the liquid blocking rib assemblies 1523 are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the intake pipe 1521. Each group of liquid blocking rib assemblies 1523 includes at least one liquid blocking section 1523 a protruding radially along the intake pipe 1521 and arranged along a circumferential direction. The gap between the inner tube wall of the outer sleeve 150 and the liquid blocking section 1523 a in each group of liquid blocking rib assemblies 1523 allows pressurized gas to flow into the atomizing chamber a and prevents the fluid in the atomizing chamber a from flowing out to the outside; the gap forms an air intake channel connected between the air guiding hole 1527 and the air outlet hole 1501. The external airflow enters from the air inlet hole 1525 and passes through the air guiding hole 1527 of the outer peripheral wall 1521 c, reaches the air outlet hole 1501 of the outer sleeve 150 along the air inlet passage, and then flows into the atomizing chamber a; under the user's suction, it is mixed with the smoke formed by heating and is inhaled by the user. At the same time, the above-mentioned gap can prevent liquid from passing through and entering the next layer of liquid-resisting rib group 1523 (Since the aerosol-forming substrate and/or the condensate formed in the atomizing chamber a has a certain viscosity relative to the ordinary liquid, the reasonable setting of the above-mentioned gap makes the liquid unable to pass through in large quantities due to surface tension), so that the above-mentioned gap can prevent liquid from leaking out while ensuring the air intake.

Specifically, at least one dripping port O is defined between the liquid blocking sections 1523 a located on the same circumference, the projections of the drip ports O in adjacent liquid-blocking rib groups 1523 along the axial direction of the intake pipe 1521 are staggered from each other; the drip ports O in the adjacent liquid resistance rib groups 1523 in the axial direction of the air intake pipe 1521 communicate with each other to form a drip channel.

That is to say, all the liquid blocking rib assemblies 1523 are arranged layer by layer along the axial direction of the intake pipe 1521, each drip port O in the liquid blocking rib assembly 1523 on the upper layer overlaps with the liquid blocking section 1523 a in the liquid blocking rib assembly 1523 on the next layer, so that the drip ports O in adjacent liquid-blocking rib groups 1523 are staggered in the axial direction of the intake pipe 1521; that is, the dripping channel formed by connecting the dripping ports O in the adjacent liquid-blocking rib groups 1523 in the axial direction of the air intake pipe 1521 is a curved channel rather than a straight-through channel.

In this specific embodiment, there are three groups of liquid-blocking ribs 1523 arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the air intake pipe 1521, each group of liquid blocking rib assemblies 1523 includes four liquid blocking sections 1523 a arranged along the circumference of the intake pipe 1521; that is, each group of liquid-repelling ribs group 1523 defines 4 drip ports O, the drip ports O in the three groups of liquid resistance ribs 1523 communicate with each other in the axial direction of the air intake pipe 1521 to form a drip channel.

During use, part of the aerosol-forming substrate and/or formed condensate in the atomizing chamber a enters the outer sleeve 150 through the air outlet hole 1501, after entering the outer sleeve 150, the drops fall on at least one of the liquid-blocking sections 1523 a of the uppermost liquid-blocking rib group 1523 (that is, the group closest to the atomizing assembly 11), the liquid blocking section 1523 a can absorb part of the liquid, another part of the liquid drops onto the next layer of liquid-resisting rib group 1523 through the drip port O, the next layer of liquid-resistant rib group 1523 also absorbs part of the liquid. Ideally, when the number of liquid blocking rib assemblies 1523 is sufficient, it can be considered that the liquid can be completely absorbed, and no liquid leaks out through the air guiding hole 1527 and the air inlet hole 1525.

Preferably, the surface of the liquid blocking section 1523 a of the group of liquid blocking rib assemblies 1523 adjacent to the air outlet hole 1501 facing the air outlet hole 1501 is a rough plane, so as to enhance the absorption capacity of the liquid blocking section 1523 a.

Preferably, the drip opening O formed in a group of liquid blocking rib assemblies 1523 adjacent to the air outlet hole 1501 and the projection of the air outlet hole 1501 along the axial direction of the air intake pipe 1521 are staggered from each other. That is, the position of the air outlet hole 1501 is staggered from the position of the drip port O in the group of liquid resistance ribs 1523, when the aerosol-forming substrate and/or condensate formed in the atomizing chamber a drips through the air outlet hole 1501, it preferentially drops on the end surface where the closed end 1521 b of the air intake pipe 1521 is located and is partially absorbed, only the fluid that cannot be absorbed at the end surface of the closed end 1521 b will drop through the adjacent drop opening O to the liquid blocking section 1523 a of the next layer. Further, the air inlet and liquid blocking structure 15 is fitted on the base 110 and located below the atomizing core 112, outer sleeve 150 has an outlet end of outlet hole 1501 extending into atomizing chamber a; moreover, a liquid receiving groove b is formed between the tube wall of the outer sleeve 150 and the base 110 due to the height difference, most of the aerosol-forming substrate and/or condensed liquid dripped from the atomizing chamber a remain in the liquid receiving groove b, and only the liquid directly opposite to the air outlet hole 1501 will drop into the outer sleeve 150, thereby reducing the risk of liquid leakage.

Further, the air outlet hole 1501 includes a plurality of openings on the air outlet end, the closed end 1521 b of the air intake pipe 1521 faces a plurality of air outlet holes 1501, the projections of the multiple air outlet holes 1501 completely fall into the plane where the closed end 1521 b is located. In this specific embodiment, there are five air outlet holes 1501 on the air outlet end of the outer sleeve 150, so that the airflow can be concentrated and blow directly to the heating surface. Further, the closed end 1521 b faces a plurality of air outlet holes 1501, which further ensures that when the matrix formed by the aerosol in the atomizing chamber a and/or the formed condensate drips through the air outlet holes 1501, the drops preferentially fall on the end surface where the closed end 1521 b of the intake pipe 1521 is located and are partially absorbed.

It can be understood that since the aerosol-forming substrate and/or the condensate formed in the atomizing chamber a has a certain viscosity relative to ordinary liquids, the air outlet holes 1501 of the outer sleeve 150 can be configured with a small diameter and a large number, so that liquid cannot enter the outer sleeve 150 through the air outlet holes 1501 in large quantities due to surface tension, and the air intake can be ensured at the same time.

Similarly, the drip channels formed by the liquid blocking section 1523a can be configured to be small in size and large in number, to prevent the liquid from passing through and entering the next layer of liquid blocking rib assembly 1523 while ensuring the amount of air intake.

In the intake liquid blocking structure 15 of the present disclosure, by arranging liquid blocking rib assemblies 1523 and forming several drip channels between each liquid blocking rib assembly 1523, the aerosol-forming substrate and/or the condensate formed in the atomizing chamber a can be absorbed by the liquid-resistant rib group 1523 after entering the outer sleeve 150 through the air outlet hole 1501, thereby preventing the liquid from leaking to the power supply device through the air guiding hole 1527 and the air inlet hole 1525 and affecting the service life of the power supply device.

The present disclosure also provides an atomizer 100 with the above-mentioned air inlet and liquid blocking structure 15 and an aerosol generating device with the atomizer 100, since the atomizer 100 and the aerosol generating device have all the functions of the above-mentioned air inlet and liquid blocking structure 15, details will not be repeated here.

The above-mentioned embodiments only express several implementations of the present disclosure, and the description thereof is relatively specific and detailed, but it should not be construed as limiting the patent scope of the present disclosure. It should be pointed out that those skilled in the art can make several modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present disclosure, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present disclosure patent should be based on the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An air inlet and liquid blocking structure, comprising an outer sleeve having an air outlet end facing the atomizing core, the air outlet end is provided with an air outlet hole communicating with the inner atomizing chamber of the atomizing assembly; and an air inlet and liquid blocking member, set in the outer sleeve, and includes an air intake pipe and at least two groups of liquid blocking rib assemblies; the air intake pipe comprises an opening end and a closed end arranged along its axial direction, and an outer peripheral wall connected between the opening end and the closed end; the opening end is provided with an air inlet connecting the outside world and the inner cavity of the air intake pipe, the outer peripheral wall defines an air guiding hole communicating between the inner cavity of the air intake pipe and the air outlet hole; wherein, the liquid blocking rib assemblies are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the intake pipe, each group of liquid blocking rib assemblies comprises at least one liquid blocking section protruding radially along the intake pipe and arranged along a circumferential direction. at least one dripping port O is defined between the liquid blocking sections located on the same circumference, the projections of the drip ports O in adjacent liquid-blocking rib groups along the axial direction of the intake pipe are staggered from each other; the drip ports O in the adjacent liquid resistance rib groups in the axial direction of the air intake pipe communicate with each other to form a drip channel.
 2. The air inlet and liquid blocking structure according to claim 1, wherein the drip opening formed in a group of liquid blocking rib assemblies adjacent to the air outlet hole and the projection of the air outlet hole along the axial direction of the air intake pipe are staggered from each other.
 3. The air inlet and liquid blocking structure according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the liquid blocking section of the group of liquid blocking rib assemblies adjacent to the air outlet hole facing the air outlet hole is a rough plane.
 4. The air inlet and liquid blocking structure according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet hole comprises a plurality of openings on the air outlet end, the closed end of the air intake pipe faces a plurality of air outlet holes, the projections of the multiple air outlet holes completely fall into the plane where the closed end is located.
 5. The air inlet and liquid blocking structure according to claim 1, wherein the air guiding hole is located between at least two groups of liquid blocking rib assemblies and the air inlet; the air guiding hole comprises a plurality of holes arranged along the circumference of the air intake pipe.
 6. The air inlet and liquid blocking structure according to claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve is made of metal material, the outlet hole of the outer sleeve is facing the heating surface of the atomizor.
 7. The air inlet and liquid blocking structure according to claim 1, wherein a sealing flange protrudes radially from the outer peripheral wall of the intake pipe adjacent to the opening end, the outer sleeve is hermetically fitted outside the sealing flange and surrounds the air guiding hole; wherein the gap between the inner tube wall of the outer sleeve and the liquid blocking section in each group of liquid blocking rib assemblies allows pressurized gas to flow into the atomizing chamber and prevents the fluid in the atomizing chamber a from flowing out to the outside.
 8. An atomizer comprising an atomization assembly with an atomizing chamber and the air inlet and liquid blocking structure according to claim
 1. 9. The atomizer according to claim 8, wherein the atomizing assembly comprises a base defining the atomizing chamber and an atomizing core provided in the atomizing chamber, the air inlet and liquid blocking structure is provided at the base and located below the atomizing core, the air outlet end of the outer casing with the air outlet hole extends into the atomizing chamber.
 10. An aerosol generating device, wherein the aerosol generating device comprises the atomizer according to claim
 9. 